Flat plate pressing machine for fabrics



July '9, 1935. F. H. PlcKARD FLAT PLATE PRESSING MACHINE FOR FABRICS s sheets-sheet 1 Filed June 23, 1934 July 9, 1935. F. H. PlcKARD 2,007,725

FLAT PLATE PRESSINGvMACHN'E FOR FABRICS Filed June 2.3, 1954 5 sheets-Sheet 2 July 9,1935. F, H- PICKARD 2,007,726

`FLAT PLATE PBESSING MACHINE FOR FABRICS Filed June 23, 1934 I5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented July 9, 1935 PATENT OFFICE FLAT PLATE PRESSINGMAGHIN non virABRIosi ,I l

Fred Hattefsieyrickapanoundhay;Leeds; j f l f4 l l Application 'June 2s; i934, seriall Naf '132,141 In Great Britain `lune, 26,1933

9 claims. (el.` acs-38) This invention relates to flat` plate pressing machines for use in the iinishing of textilefab.- ries, said machines being of the kind inwhich the material to be pressed is passed'in a plurality of o layers or folds between press paper or .other sheets suspendedin each of the nips'aiforded by the superposed flat plates of thev press, `said* press sheets, which serve toseparate thel layers. or folds of material in'each` nip, extending beyond opposite edges of the press platesandbeing supported at .their opposite' ends upon rods or the equivalent. v ',Inmachines of this kind as hitherto constructed the carrying rollersyior the material tobe pressed and the press sheet rods or like supports associated with each nip ofthe press have been iiXed in position, and in consequence the number of press plates or nips and the amount of total lift or movement of the press plates which could beV usefully employed in any press without tear.- ing or subjecting 'the material and the press sheets to excessive tension have been limited.

Accordingto the invention the carrying rollers and press sheet supporting rods or the. equivalent associated with the nip-sin machines ofthe kind set forth are Vadapted to move collectively more or` lessin unison with the plates :of said nips so that both the material and the presssheets there-- in will not be subjected to undue tension during the pressing operation. .f g; rI 'hus the two sets ,of carryingv rollersand press sheet supporting rods,.locatedone on thefeeding side and one on the delivery side ofV eachzIlip, are adapted to move toward each other or towardthe adjacent edges ofthe press plates duringthe rising thereof so as to slacken thematerialand press sheets sufliciently to allow for4 the ,liftj of said plates without subjecting the materialand press sheets to unduevtension. In a modification the carrying rollers and press sheets associated with each nip maybe adapted to be moved vertically or horizontally in accordance with the movement of the plates affording said nip, and in this connection the carrying rollers and press sheet supporting rods `may be adapted to be; operated vby the lower plate of the nip, orY other suitable means.v ,j ji

VIn veither case the carrying rollers and rods would .assume their normal positions when; the nips ofthe press are ,opened so that the, material can be drawn through the nips and between the press sheets therein intermittently in predeter- A minedlengths. l v 1 f j 'A In order thaththe inventionv may bemclearly 55 understood and readily `carried into eilect,v vthe same willnow be more fully described with reference. tothe embodiments illustratedin the accompanying drawings; whereimy ,Figures 1` and 2 are similar fragmentary sec` tionalelevations vof a flat plate pressing machine `5 for fabrics', Figure ,1 illustrating the plates apart andFigure2 showing the nips closed to press'the fabrics.; i Y,

',FiguresfB and -4 are respectively similar views to Figures'l and 2 but illustrate amodicati'on. 10 g Figures y5 and 6 are similar views .toFigures l and 2 `respectively butshow a further mod iii-l cation.` 1 f v v Referring to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, the machineuframes I` have between them the 1`5` upper press plate 2, andthe ram Srcarries the bottom press plate 4, whilst there are three intermediate press plates 5. 'Ihe `piecesvoi material 6 after passing over feed-rollers 'I on the machine frame I pass to and frofbetween carrying rollers 20 8 so vthat the layers yor runs extend between the nipsof i the press. Y Each of the press plates 2, 4 and r5Y is faced with press paper at 9, and the layers or runs of material 6 passedbetween each nip of the press are separated one from the other by 25 press paper sheets 9X suspended from press sheet rods II). l

, The two sets of carrying rollers 8 and associated presslsheet rods IIJ, located one on the feeding sideiand one on the delivery side of each 30 nip,vare mounted upon bearing blocks or brackets II which arefreely pivoted at their upper ends -to the machine frame I at I2 so as to be capable of a swinging` movement toward and away from the'press plates', `whilst each'of the depending 35 pivot brackets I I is connected at its lower end by a pivoted connecting rod or link' I3 tor the lower press plate 4, so that as the latter rises the bearing blocks or brackets II will `have an angular motiontoward the press plates 2, I and, thereby 40 slackening the material 6 and pressv sheets 9X sufficiently to allowfor the lift of the press plates without subjecting the material I5 and press sheets 9X to undue tension.` When Vthe `ram 3 lowers and :thefnips open to release the material 6 and sus- 45 pended press sheets 9X, the brackets I I move outward from the press plates and the material 6 is drawn therethrough ready for the next pressing operation. In this connection the lengths of material 6 are drawn oli around take-off rollers 50 I4 carried Abythe depending brackets II on the delivery side `of the press, and thepmaterial I5 is preferablyled off in a backward and upward direction as shown so as notto be subjected to any tensioning action by thetake-off rollers I4 when 4515 their carrying brackets II swing inward toward the nips. The carrying rollers 8 may be free-running rollers, preferably mounted in ball bearings, so that the cloth can be pulled through the open nips in layers, or they may be geared together by spur pinions I5 (see Figure 1) carried by the depending pivot brackets II, so as to constitute carrying rollers for the material 6, the drive for said gearing being taken from any convenient running part of the press. Also the connecting rods or links may be adjustable for length say by means of turnbuckles I6 as shown, and they may be adjustably connected to the press plate or to the pivoted bearing blocks or brackets II so as to enable the movement imparted to the carrying rollers 8 and rods I0 to be varied to suit the lift of the press. i A

Referring now to Figures" 3 and 4 of the drawings, in which like references to those in Figures l and 2 indicate like or analogous parts, the two sets of carrying rollers 8.- and associated press sheet rods I are .mounted upon members IIfvertically slidable in guides I8 on the frame. I,. the lower end of each of Said slidable members being 'connected by a link I9 to the free end of a lever 20 pivoted to the frame I. Connecting rods or links I3, which are adjustable'in length by means of turnbuckles I6, serve to connect the lower press plate 4 to the free ends of the levers 20 at either side, the arrangement being such that as the said lower press plate 4 is raised during the pressing operation the slidable members I1, carrying the rollers 8 and rods I0, are raised in unison as shown in Figure 4, so as to prevent undue tension being put upon the material 6 and press sheets 9X.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 5 and 6, in which like references to those in Figures 1 and 2 also indicate like parts, the rollers 8 and associated rods I0 are mounted upon members 2| slidable in horizontal guides 22 and loaded by springs 23 which tend to keep said members 2I apart. Each member 2| is adapted to be moved in its guides 22 against the action of the springs 23 by means of cam levers or bell cranks 24 pivoted to the frame I and coupled together by a link 25. The cam levers or bell cranks 24 are actuated by levers 26 connected to the lower cam lever or bell crank 24 at each side and having pin and slot connections 21 with the lower press plate 4, the arrangement being such'that as the latter rises the members 2-I with their rollers 8 and rods I0 are moved towards one another against the action of the springs 23 so as to prevent undue tension upon thematerial 6 land press sheets 9X.

It will be understoodv that the invention may be applied to presses having any number of plates within practical limits.

I am aware it has before been proposed in a press in which the press sheets are freely suspended from the press plates/to mount the` carrying rollers on pivoted armsat opposite sides of the nips, said arms being connected by links to the bottom press plate so as to swing towards the nips and thereby slacken the material as the press plates rise.

1. In a dat plate pressing machine, a frame having spaced standards, press plates positioned between said standards, cloth 'carrying rollers and press sheet supporting rods carried by said standards, and means ior collectively moving the carrying rolls and supporting rods in unison with said press plates whereby the material and the press sheets will not be subjected to undue tension during the pressing operation.

2. In a Ilat plate pressing machine, a frame having spaced standards, vertically movable press plates positioned between said standards, two sets of carrying rollers and press sheet supporting rods, located one on the feeding side and one on the delivery side of said press plates, and means for moving each set toward each other and toward the adjacent edges of the press plates during the rising of said plates whereby the material and press sheets are suniciently slackened to allow for the lift.

3. In a flat plate. pressing machine, a frame having spaced standards, bearing brackets movably mounted upon said standards, carrying rollers and associated press sheet supporting rods mounted on said bearing brackets, vertically movable press plates positioned between said standards, and separate means connecting each bracket with one of said press plates whereby as said press plate is moved up and down said bearing brackets will vmove in unison therewith and pre'- vent 'undue tension between the material and press sheets.

4. In a flat plate pressing machine, a frame having spaced standards, bearing brackets pivotally mounted at their upper ends upon said standards, carrying rollers and associated press sheet supporting rods mounted on said bearing brackets, vertically movable press plates positioned between said standards, and separate means connecting each bracket with one of said press plates whereby as said press plate is moved up and down said bearing brackets will have angular movement toward and away from the press plates.

5. In a'flat plate pressing machine, a frame having spaced standards, bearing brackets pivotally mounted at their upper ends upon said standards, carrying rollers and associated press sheet supporting rods mounted on said bearing brackets, vertically movable press plates positioned between said standards, and connecting rods connecting the lower ends of said brackets to the lowermost press plate whereby as said press plate is moved up and down said bearing brackets will have angular movement toward and away from the press plates.

6. In a ilat plate pressing machine, a frame having spaced standards, bearing brackets pivotally mounted at their upper ends upon said standards, carrying rollers and associated press sheet supporting rods mounted on said bearing brackets, vertically movable press plates positioned between said standards, and adjustable Vconnecting rods connecting the lower ends of said brackets to the lowermost press plate whereby as said press plate is moved up and down said bearing brackets will have angular movement toward and away from the press plates.

7. In a flat plate pressing machine a frame having spaced standards, vertically movable press plates positioned between said standards, two sets of carrying rollers and press sheet supporting rods, located one on the feeding side and one on the delivery side of said press plates, and means for moving each set vertically during the rising of the press plates whereby the'material and press sheets are sutliciently slackened to allow forthe lift.

8. In a nat plate pressing machine, a frame having spaced standards, bearing brackets slidably mounted upon said standards, carrying rollers and associated press sheet supporting rods mounted on said bearing brackets, vertically movable press plates positioned between said standards, and separate means connecting each bracket with one of said pressl plates whereby as said 5 press plate is moved up and down said bearing brackets will move in unison therewith and prevent undue tension between the material and press sheets.

, 9. In a at plate pressing machine, a frame 10 having spaced standards provided with vertical guideways, bearing brackets slidably mounted in said guideways, carrying rollers and associated press sheet supporting rods mounted on said bearing brackets, vertically movable press plates positioned between said standards, and means for Y moving said brackets vertically during the rising of the press plates whereby the material and press sheets are suicientlyfslackened to allow for 

